The Lindy rig is the slow, subtle live-bait presentation for walleye that are scattered along breaklines in summer. The sinker walks over rocks, the leader lets the bait swim freely, and because the line slides through the sinker, you can open the bail and feed line to a fish while it decides. It is the rig for a slow back-troll along a 20-foot break with a leech.
What you need
- Walking or no-snag slip sinker1/4–1/2 oz (1/8 oz per 10 ft of depth is a guide)
- Barrel swivelSize 10–12
- Leader3–6 ft of 6–8 lb fluorocarbon or mono
- Hook#4–#6 octopus (or a small floating jighead)
- BaitLeech, nightcrawler or minnow
- Main line8 lb mono or 10 lb braid
How to tie the lindy rig (live bait rig)
- Slide the walking sinker onto the main line.
- Tie the main line to the barrel swivel.
- Tie a 3–6 ft leader to the other end of the swivel, then tie on the hook.
- Add a small float or floating jighead on the leader if you need to lift the bait above weeds or rock.
- Hook the bait: leech through the sucker, crawler through the nose, minnow through the lips.
How to fish it
Back-troll or drift at 0.5–1 mph along a breakline with the rod tip near the water, feeling the sinker tick bottom. On a bite, open the bail, let the fish take line for a count of five to ten, close the bail, reel until tight and sweep-set.
Tips
- Longer leaders (5–6 ft) in clear water and for spooky fish; shorter in stained water.
- A snell knot on the octopus hook improves hookups.
- Use a bait-feeder or "baitrunner"-style reel to let fish run without opening the bail.
Common mistakes
- Setting the hook instantly; walleye often need a few seconds.
- Trolling too fast, which lifts the sinker off bottom.
FAQ
How long should a Lindy rig leader be?
3–4 feet is standard; 5–6 feet in clear water or when fish are suspended slightly off bottom.